Dispenser for paper napkins and like articles



Aug. 7, 1928.

J. O. HUNT ET AL DISPENSER FOR PAPER NAPKINS AND LIKE ARTICLES FiledJune 24, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m-ulunv. W nn ",1," 111111115 I! :57.ITQW H IHHHU rlllill 1L l Aug. 7, 1928.

J. O. HUNT ET AL DISPENSER FOR PAPER NAPKINS AND LIKE ARTICLES FiledJune 24, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIHIMIIIIII III III 131' w w w 1,679,904J O HUNT ET AL DISPENSER FOR PAPER NAPKINS AND LIKE ARTICLES Flled June24, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Jafirz flflzzrzfm a figprgeJYMr/aAug. 7, 1928.

Aug. 7, 1928. 1,679,904 J. o. HUNT ET AL DISPENSER FOR PAPER NAPKINS ANDLIKE ARTICLES Filed June 24, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS faiz 0. 11a! and Aug. 7

Filed June 24, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet M a m 3 3 a u 5: 1 M a l.|. l| H. [Im" lNVENTORf) Ja/uz 0 and a Patented Aug. 7, 1928. r 1,679,904

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JoHN o. HUNT, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND GEORGE H. NORTH, or cEANs'roN,RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNORS 'ro INDEPENDENT PAPER MILLS, me, or BROOKLYN,

NEW YOR ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DISPENSER Eon PAPER NAPKINS ANnLIKE ARTICLES.

Application filed June 24, 1925. serial No. 39,215.

Our invention relates toan apparatus for Fig. is a sectional elevationon'line dispensing paper napkins and like articles, 5-5 Fig. 2. p andmore particularly, to that typeof Such Flg. 6 is a partial section takenon line apparatus in which a pile f superimposed 6-6 Fig, 7 and 5napkins folded in aparticular manner is Fig. 7 is an inverted plan ofthe base of 65 placed upon a platform, and the platform the apparatus.

automatically moved toward an orifice or The dispenser for paper napkinsand the opening in the apparatus through which the like made inaccordance with our invention napkins are obtainable one at a time. We1s constructed to include a suitable casing 10 are aware that inapparatus of this type Which as illustrated may comprise a front movableplatforms have heretofore been wall 10, and a back wall 11, and sideWalls employed, and various types of motors used and 13, so connected asto be rectangular for operating the same. We are also aware 1ncross-section. This casing also includes that heretofore in this type ofapparatus dea series of base plates 14,, 15, 16 and 17. At

" vices have been employed and made operaeachcorner oft e casing at thebase thereof five through opening the cover of the casing there is afoot or supporting member 18, for maintaining the platform in anydepreferably fitted with a cushion 19 of rubber sired position when thecover is open. or other similar material. As illustrated Our presentinvention relates more parthe base plates 14 and 17, inclusive, are con-20 ticularly to the use and construction of a nected to the walls of thecasing by suitable 7 motor carriage employed for the urposes brackets20, and angle irons 21, although, indicated, and also to devices by wieh the as Wi11 be understood, this construction is motor carriage isautomatically released merely lllustrative and forms no part of our whenthe cover is closed, and locked and present invention.

' maintained in any osition when the cover The sing also includes aframe or cap is open, the object o the invention being the 22, ada-ptedto fit over the upper end of the provision of a. motor and its housinwhich oaslng, and as shown may be made to inis so constructed as toeffect a material savelude a moulding 23 for the purpose of ing inmanufacture, and greater facility in ornamentation. Extending across theframe so assembling the parts of the motor, and at, or cap 22 in asubstantially central aosition go the same time one in which the motoritself there is a cross-bar 24. The casing urtheris adjustable to varythe tension or power more includes a suitable cover 25', which is'derived f n the 5 1119 the motor andmohinged as lndicated It O1otherwise C011- tor housing, and the platform comprising a 1 Cted t0 thecasing. In carr ing out the 35 carriage with which the brake devicescoll'lventlon We Prefer to PIO 8 th s Cover operate to hold the carriagein any given member 25 Wlth IOllGCl POItiOIlS 27 having position whenthe cover of the casing is open Concave 1111161 r es, and en openin 28for the insertion of napkins or other articles, at one end whereby the Pp nepliins, or otherwise, and to release the platform tofwds 9 othersimllill ar icles are main- 40 making the motor operative when the covertamed 111 Contact against his Concave Suris closed, all of which will behereinafter face, and y bereedily removed one at a more particulralydescribed. time through the said opening. As illus- In th /drawin Fig, 1i a l d trated, the dispenser includes two sets, of partial sectionillustrating a dispensing apapp tus for dispensing the paper napkinsparatus made in accordance with our inven other articles and as will beunderstood:

tion. 1 irrespective of the number of sets of ap- Fig. 2 is a sectionalelevation online 2 2, paratus employed there 1s a rolled portion Fig. 1.in the cover and an openlng therein for Fig. 8 is a section on line 33,.Fig. 2. each set of apparatus, in order that the ar- 50 Fig. 4 1s asection on line 4.-4, Fig. 1. holes dispensed from each set areindependent of the articles dispensed from any other set of theapparatus, it being obvious that any number of sets of apparatus may beincluded in any given dispenser. Brace and spacer rods 29 and 30 aresecured at their upper or outer ends in tapped openings provided forthis purpose in the crossbar 24, and extend between the same and across-bar '31, the lower or inner ends of these brace and spacer rodspassin through and being connected to the cross-bar 31 by nuts 32, 33 orotherwise. The cross-bar 31is secured in position by being connected tothe angle irons 21 by means of bolts 34, 35 or otherwise.

One of the features of our present invention relates more particularlyto the construction of the motor and platform. The motor is a springmotor, and the casing is constructed in two similar parts which areadapted to be assembled in reverse ositions and connected to form theplatform for the su erimposed pile of paper napkins or other ikearticles, and also to form a housing for the operative parts of themotor, which furthermore, are constructed to be adjustable to vary thetension exerted by the motor when in use. Each set of operating devicesis similarly constructed, and for this reason but one of them will bespecifically described. 4

The carriage for raising or advancing a superimposed pile of papernapkins or like articles includes a platform, a housing, and the motormechanism mounted therein. The platform is a part of the housing, andthe housing is made in two sections similar to each other in allrespects, and the arts thereof adapted to be reversed and p acedtogether to contain the motor. The platform connected to one art of thehousing is indicated at 36. This part of the housing also, includes awall 37 which is angular, providing end walls, one of which terminatesin an extension flange 38, which is offset from the center line of thehousing, and the other terminatesin a flanged bracket 39. The platformportion of the other section of the motor housing is indicated at 40.This section of the housing includes a wall 41 which is also angular,providing end walls corresponding to the end walls of the wall 37, andone of which is rovided with an offset extension 42, whic corresponds tothe offset extension 38, and the other with a flanged bracket 43, whichcorresponds to the flanged bracket 39. The platform 36 at one endthereof is provided with a boss 44. At the corres on'ding end of theplatform 40 there is a boss 45. Similarly at the other side of theapparatus the end of the platform 40 is provided with a boss 47corresponding with the boss 44 on the platform 36, and the platform 36is provided with a boss 48, w ich corresponds to the boss 45 on theplatform 40. In the front wall 10 extending substantially from the topto the bottom thereof there is an angle 46 secured to the inner face ofthe wall in any suitable manner, and similarly there is an angle 49secured to the rear or back wall 11. Associated with the an le 46 thereis a brake bar 50. This brake bar lies against the angle in a positionsubstantially parallel with the front wall 10 and is provided with aplurality of slots 51, which are inclined from one ed e of the brake barto the other. Extendin t rough each slot 51 there is a pin 52.lilxtending from the lower end of the brake bar there is a rod 53forming a continuation thereof, and extending through the base plate 16.Surrounding the rod 53 there is a spring 54 extending between the baseplate 16 and the lower-or inner end of the brake bar 50, the action ofwhich tends to force the brake bar u wardly, and by moving against thepins 52 t e brake bar is shifted from right to left, as viewed in Figs.4 and 6, to bring the adjacent edge of the brake bar into contact. withthe boss 45. The frame or cap 22 is provided with an openin 55 throughwhich the upper end of the bra e bar is adapted to extend when the coveris raised or removed, and the cover is provided with a boss 56 adaptedwhen the cover is closed to enter the opening 55, and to engage theupper end of the brake bar 50, to force the same downwardly or inwardlyagainst the action of the spring 54, thereby shifting the position ofthe brake bar from left to right and away from the boss 45, andreleasing the carriage. It will be understood that a brake bar similarin all respects to the brake bar 50 is associated with the anglecorresponding to the angle 49 in each unit of the apparatus, and thatthe parts associated therewith are similar to those associated with thebrake bar 50 as hereinbefore described, and are actuated in like mannerso that when the cover of the casing is raised or removed the brake barsare operative to engage the carriages frictionally, and to maintain thesame in any given position, whereas, when the cover is closed thecarriages are released and free to be moved by the motors.

The motor enclosed in the housin as hereinbefore described, isparticularly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. In the wall 37 of thehousing there is a bearing 58, and in a similar position in the wall 41there is a bearing 59. Mounted in these bearings is a shaft 60; on theshaft 60 adjacent the wall 37 is a collar 61, and connected to thecollar 61 there is a coil spring 62. At. its inner end this spring isprovided with an eye let into a recess in the collar and secured thereinby a pin 63 or otherwise. At its outer end the spring is also providedwith an eye 64 through which a bolt 65 passes. Thls bolt 65 is adaptedto be seated in a recess provided for this pur ose in lugs 66 at thelower or inner ends oi the walls 37 and 41. In the inner face of thecollar 61 there is a circularly arranged series of sockets 67.

On the shaft 60 adjacent the wall 41 there is a collar 68. Surroundingthis collar 68 is a coiled spring 69. At its inner end this spring 69 isconnected to the collar 68 in the same manner that the spring 62 isconnected to the collar 61. At its outer end the spring 69 is providedwith or terminates in an eye 70, through which the bolt 65 also passes.In the inner face of the collar 68 there is aseries of circularlyarranged. sockets 7 1 corresponding in number with the sockets 67.

On the shaft 60 adjacent the collar 61 there is a chain collar 72 havingassociated therewith spaced disks 73, 74: acting as a guide for a chain75 as the same is wound upon and unwound from the collar 72. One end ofthe chain 75 is secured to the collar 72, and this chain passes over apulley 76 mounted on a shaft journaled in bearings carried by the offsetextension 38 and the flanged bracket 43. At its opposite end the chain75 is connected to a socket 77, and the socket 77 is connected to theframe or cap 22 by a screw 78. The chain 75 in passing through thehousing is directed by a guide flange 79.

Also mounted on the shaft 60 is a chain collar 80. This is provided withdisks 81 and 82 adapted to act as guides for a chain 83, one end ofwhich is attached to the collar 80. The chain 83 is adapted to be woundand unwound on the collar between the disks 81 and 82, and passestherefrom over a pulley 84 mounted on a suitable shaft j ournaled inbearings provided for this purpose in the offset extension 42, and theflanged bracket 39. In passing through the casing this chain 83 isdirected by a guide flange 85. The opposite end of the chain is securedto a socket 86, and is connected to the frame or cap 22 by a screw 87.We employ a spacer 88 surrounding portions of the collars 72 and 80, andextending between the disks 73 and 82 to maintain the parts of the motorin their relative positions on the shaft as hereinafter described.

The collar 72 and also the collar 80 are provided with transverse boresadapted to receive a pin 89, which extends through and sufficiently farbeyond the outer surfaces of the collars to enter one of the sockets 67in the collar 61, and one of the sockets 71 in the collar 68, whereby inassembling the parts of the motor thespringsmay be adjusted to obtain abalance, whereby each spring exerts a substantially'equal turning forceor torque on the shaft 60. The shaft 60 is provided with a flange orcollar 90 of appreciably greater diameter than the shaft, and adapted tofit within a recess provided therefor in the outer face of the collar68, so as to; limit the position of this collar and the other parts ofthe motor relatively to this end of the shaft. The disks 81 and 82 are}secured to the collar 80 in any suitable manner, and the inner portionof the disk 81 abuts against the adjacent face of the collar 68. Oneside of the spacer 88 abuts against the adjacent inner portion of thedisk 82, and the other face of the spacer 88 abuts against the adjacentinner portion of the disk 73. The inner face of the collar 61 abuts aainst the inner portion of the disk 74 when t 1e parts of the motor arein their assembled positions. As illustrated, the collar 61 is adaptedto be turned down on a screw threaded ortion of the shaft 60, andsecured in position thereon by a cotter pin 91, or otherwise. From theconstruction shown, it will be seen that the outer ends of the springsare fixed to the connector member 65; the inner ends of the springs arefixed to the rotatable shaft 60, and exert a turnin force on said shaftwhich is transmitted through pin 91 and pin 89 to the collars 72 and 80,which thereby exert a tension on the flexible winding and tensionmembers 75 and 83; these tension members, being attached to the top ofthe casing, serve to lift the motor and platform toward the top of thecasing.

t will now be apparent that as the carriage, including the platform andthe motor with its housing is moved inwardly or downwardly in the casingof the dispenser the springs of the motor are wound, thereby increasingthe tension exerted by the same, and reducing the leverage of the chainsso that as the napkins or other articles are dis pensed from theapparatus, and the carriage automatically raises, the tension exerted bythe springs is decreased and the leverage of the chains increased, andas the pile o superimposed napkins becomes less and less as the carriagemoves upwardly there is a substantially uniform and constant pressureexerted against the napkins to maintain them in position, irrespectiveof the number of napkins originally placed in or remaining in thesuperimposed Bile thereof.

The cover or the casing may e normally maintained in a closed positionby any suitable means. As illustrated, clearly in Fig. 4 the cover maybe provided with a hpok member 92 adapted to pass through an opening 93in the frame or cap 22, and to be engaged by a latch 94: at the end ofone arm of a lever pivotally mounted at 95. The other end 96 of thelever extends through an opening 97 provided therefor in the casing, andacts as a handle by means of which the lever may be swung on its pivotalpoint against the action of a sprin 98 to disengage the latch 94 and thehoo r 92, thereby unlocking the cover. It will also be apparent that bymaking the nose of the hook 92 bevelled the same will automaticallyoperate the latch lever 94 in closing the cover and that when the coverreaches its closed position the latchlever will automatically en age thehook to lock the cover 1n place.

t will now furthermore be understood that when the cover is closed thebars 50 are depressed against the actions of the s pr1ngs 54, and aremaintained in such positions as not to contact with the bosses 45 of themotor housings, but that when the cover is raised or open these bars 50are released and are moved upwardly or outwardly and also by means ofthe pins 52 acting in the slots 51 are shifted laterally to engage thebosses 45 and thereby frictionally maintain the carria es in any desiredposition.

It will also be understood that irrespectiveof the number of dispensingunits which may be employed in any apparatus the parts of the same aresimilarly constructed, and

- that any desired number of dispensing units may be em loyed in anydispenser without departing rom the nature and spirit of our invention.

The apparatus herein shown and described is particularly adapted fordispensing pa er napkins and other similar articles so fol ed that eachnapkin or other article in turn may be readily grasped and withdrawnfrom the dispenser. The particular fold of the paper napkin or otherarticle may be made in any way to accomplish this purpose, preferablyhowever, each napkin or other article is so folded as to comprise aplurality of substantially e ual sections, and an end section of reducearea which may be folded on itself, and the article then transverselyfolded to present a double edge, either one or both of which are equallyavailable to be grasped by the user in withdrawing the article from thedispenser.

we claim as our invention:

1. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles,.a casing, acarriage comprising a platform, a motor housing integral therewith, anda spring winding motor within the housing, guides for direct-ing themovement of the carriage, and a flexible winding member between themotor and the casing for advancing the carriage and a superimposed pileof paper napkins or like articles placed on the platform for maintainingthe outermost article in )osition to be readily grasped and removed trough the discharge opening in the casing.

2. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a casing, acarriage comprising a multipart motor housing, a platform integraltherewith, and a winding motor contained therein, guides for directinthe movement of the carriage, and a exible winding member between themotor and the casing, whereby the carriage is automatically advanced bythe motor to advance a pile of su erimposed paper napkins or likearticles p aced on the platform, and to maintain the outermost articlein position to be readily grasped and removed through the dischargeopening in the casing.

3. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a casing having adischarge opening therein, a carriage comprising a two part motorhousing and a platform integral therewith and a winding motor containedtherein, the parts of the housing being duplicates, and adapted to bereversed in position and laced together to contain the motor, guid esfor directing the movement of the carriage, and flexible winding membersbetween the motor and the casing, whereby the carriage and a pile ofsuperimposed paper napkins or like articles placed on the platform areadvanced to maintain the outermost article in position to be grasped andwithdrawn from the discharge opening in the casing.

4. A dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a casing having adischarge opening therein, a carriage comprising a two part motorcasing, a platform integral therewith, and spring motors mounted in thehousing, the parts of the housin being duplicates, and adapted to beassembled in reverse positions to enclose the s )rings forming themotors, guide members or directing the movement of the carriage, aflexible winding connection between one spring motor and a part of thecasing, and a flexible winding connection between another spring motorand another part of the casing, whereby the carriage is automaticallyadvanced, together with a pile of superimposed paper napkins and likearticles placed on the platform to maintain the outermost article inposition to be readily grasped and removed from the casing.

5. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a carriagecomprising a two part motor housing, a platform integral therewith, and-spring motors enclose in the housing, the parts of the housing beingduplicates and ada ted to be reversed in position and assemb ed toenclose the motors, a shaft mounted in the housing, and adapted to beturned by the said motors, a connecting device extending between thesaid motors for varying the power applied to the shaft by each motor toobtain a balance between the motors, whereby each motor suppliessubstantially the same power to the said shaft to turn the same andmeans actuated by said shaft, for moving said carriage.

6. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a carriagecomprising two part motor housing, and a platform integral therewith,the parts of the housing being duplicates and adapted to be reversed inposition and assembled to enclose the motors, a

panacea shaftjournaled in the housing, spring motors connected to thesaid shaft and adapted to turn the same, means for adjusting the tensionon the said springs to obtain a balance to cause both of the saidsprings to exert substantially the same turning movement to the saidshaft and means actuated by said shaft, for moving said carriage.

7. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a carriagecomprising a two part housing, and a platform integral therewith, theparts of the housing being duplicates and adapted to be reversed andassembled to complete the housing and plat form, a shaft journaled inthe said housing, collars mounted on the said shaft, and coiled springseach of which is secured at one end to one of the said collars, at theother end to the said housing, and means for adjnstably connecting thesaid collars to vary the ten sion on the said springs, whereby eachspring is caused to impart substantially the same turning movement tothe said shaft and tension means actuated by said shaft, for moving saidcarriage.

8. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a carriagecomprising a two part housing and a platform integral therewith, partsof the housing being duplicates and adapted to be reversed in positionand assembled tocomplete the housin and platform, a shaft journaled inthe said housing, a collar secured to the said shaft, a collar mountedto turn on the said shaft, coiled springs each connected at one end toone of the said collars,-and at the other end to the said housing, a pinadapted to connect the said collars'in' any one of a plurality ofpositions to vary the tension exerted by the said springs to obtain abalance, whereby the power imparted by each of the springs to the saidshaft is substantially equal and tension means actuated by said shaft,for moving said carriage.

9. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a carriagecomprising a. two part housing, and a platform integral therewith, partsof the housing being duplicates and adapted to be reversed and assembledto complete the housing and platform, a shaft journaled in the saidhousing, spring motors within the housing each connected at one end tothe said shaft, a connector member associated with the housing in aposition opposite to the said platform, and to which the opposite endsof the said springs are secured, means for adjusting the tension on thesaid springs to obtain a substantial balance between the same, causingeach spring to apply substantially the same turning movement to the saidshaft and a flexible winding member actuated from said shaft, for movingsaid carriage.

10. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a carriagecomprising a two part housing, a platform, the parts of the housingbeing duplicates and adapted to be reversed and assembled to completethe housing and platform, a shaft journaled in the said housing, acollar fixed on the shaft. a collar mounted to turn on the shaft, coiledsprings each connect ed at one end to one of the said collars, a boltnormally lying in recesses in the housing opposite the platform sectionthereof, and to which the opposite ends of the said springs areconnected, means for adjusting the tension on the said springs to obtaina balance between the same causing each spring to impart substantiallythe same turning movement to the said shaft and tension means actuatedby said shaft, for moving said carriage.

11. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a carriagecomprising a two part housing, a platform, the parts of the housingbeing duplicates and adapted to be reversed and assembled to completethe housing and platform, a shaft journaled in the said housing, acollar fixed on the shaft. a collar mounted to turn on the shaft, coiledsprings each connected at one end to one of the said collars, a boltnormally lying in recesses in the housing opposite the platform sectionthereof. and to which the opposite ends of the said springs areconnected, a pin extending between and adapted to enter any one of aseries of sockets provided therefor in the said collars to vary thetensions of the said springs, causing each spring to impartsubstantially the. same turning movement to the said shaft and aflexible winding member actuated from said shaft, for moving saidcarriage.

12. In a. dispenser for paper napkins like articles, a casing, a coverfor the cusing, the casing being provided with a discharge opening, amotor carriage within the casing, a platform movable with the motorcarriage, devices for directing the movement of the motor carriage andthe platform, means for connecting the motor carriage to the casing,whereby normally, the motor and motor carriage and a superimposed pileof paper napkins andlike articles placed on the platform areautomatically advanced in the same direction to maintain the outermostarticle in position to be readily grasped and withdrawn, and means forfrictionally engaging the motor carriage to maintain the same in anyposition when the cover of the casing is open, and when the napkins andlike articles are being placed upon the said platform.

13. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a casing, acover for the casing, the said cover having a discharge opening therein,a motor carriage. a platform movable with the motor carriage, devicesfor connecting the motor carriage to the casing, for normally advancingin the same and direction the motor and the motor carriage and a pile ofsuperimposed paper napkins and like articles placed on the platform tomaintain the outermost article in position to be readily grasped andwithdrawn through the said discharge opening, guide rails in .the saidcasing, devices carried by the motor carriage for cooperating with thesaid guide rails to direct the travel of the said motor carriage, aclamp bar associated with one of the said guide rails, means carried bythe cover for normally maintaining the said clamp bar in an inoperativeposition, and means operative when the cover is open for shifting thesaid clamp bars to engage the motor carriage and to maintain the same inany position of its travel.

14. In dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a casing, a coverfor the easing, the said cover having a discharge opening therein, amotor carriage, a platform movable with the motor carriage, devices forconnecting the motor carriage to the casing,

for normally advancing in the same direction the motor and the motorcarriage and a pile of superimposed paper napkins and like articlesplaced on the platform to maintain the outermost article in position tobe readily grasped and withdrawn through the said discharge opening,guide rails mounted in the said casing, bosses on the said motorcarriage for spanning the said guide rails to direct the travel of thecarriage, and means made operative when the cover is open for engagingthe said bosses to maintain the carriage in any position of its travel.

15. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a casing, acover for the casing, the said cover having a discharge opening therein,a motor carriage, a platform movable with the motor carriage, devicesfor connecting the motor carriage to the casing, for normally advancingin the same direction the motor and the motor carriage and a pile ofsuperimposed paper napkins and like articles placed on the platform tomaintain the outermost article in position to be readily grasped andwithdrawn through the said discharge opening, guide rails mounted in thesaid casing, bosses on the said motor carriage for spanning the saidguide rails to direct the travel of the carriage, a clamp bar associatedwith one of the said guide rails, means connected with the cover fornormally maintaining the said clamp bar in an inoperative position whenthe cover is closed, and means operative when the cover is released forshifting the said clamp bar to engage the said bosses to frictionallymaintain the motor carriage in any position of its travel.

16. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a casing, acover for the easing, the said cover having a discharge opening therein,a motor carriage, a platform movable with the motor carriage, devicesfor connecting the motor carriage to the casing, for normally advancingin the same direction the motor and the motor carriage and a pile ofsuperimposed paper napkins and like articles placed on the platform tomaintain the outermost article in position to be readily grasped andwithdrawn through the said discharge opening, guide rails mounted in thesaid casing, bosses on the said motor carriage for spanning the saidguide rails to direct the travel of the carriage, a clamp bar associatedwith one of the said guide rails, pins secured in the said guide railand extending through inclined slots in the said clamp bar, devicescarried by the cover and adapted to maintain the said clamp bar in adepressed inoperative position when the cover is closed, and meansoperative when the cover is open for shifting the said clamp bar tocause the same through the lateral motion imparted thereto by the pinsoperating in the inclined slots to force the clamp bar against one ofthe said bosses to frictionally maintain the motor carriage in anyposition of its travel.

17 In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a casing, a coverfor the easing, the said cover having a discharge opening therein, amotor carriage, a platform movable with the motor carriage, devices forconnecting the motor carriage to the casing, for normally advancing themotor carriage and a pile of superimposed paper napkins and likearticles placed on the platform to maintain the outermost article inposition to be readily grasped and withdrawn through the said dischargeopening, guide rails mounted in the said casing, bosses on the saidmotor carriage for spanning the said guide rails to direct the travel ofthe carriage, a clamp bar associated with one of the said guide rails,pins secured in the said guide rail and extending through inclined slotsin the said clamp bar, devices carried by the cover and adapted tomaintain the said clamp bar in a depressed inoperative position when thecover is closed, and a spring surrounding the inner end of said clampbar for moving the same in the opposite direction when the cover isopen, whereby through the said pins operating in the inclined slots theclamp bar is shifted laterally to engage one of the said bosses and thusmaintain the motor carriage in any position of its travel.

18. In a dispenser for paper napkins and like articles, a movable motorcarriage, a napkin carrying platform movable with the motor carriage, aplurality of motors in the motor carriage, a plurality of membersactuated by the motors, respectively, for bodi- 1y moving-the motorcarriage, and means for adjusting the motors to balance the same tocause the power applied to said members by each motor to besubstantially the same.

19. In a dispenser for paper napkins and the like, a casing having adispensing opening, a rotary spring motor mounted for movement towardsaid opening, a napkincarrying platform movable with the motor as itmoves toward said opening, and means cooperating with the motor, wherebythe motor bodily moves itself and. the said platform toward saiddispensing opening and whereby the motor is rewonnd when it is movedaway from said opening.

20. In a dispenser for paper napkins and the like, a. casing having adispensing opening at the top thereof, a spring winding motor mountedfor vertical movement in the casing, toward and away from saiddispensing opening, a napkin-carrying platform movable with the motor,and means cooperating with the motor and easing whereby the motor liftsitself and the platform toward the dispensing opening and whereby themotor is rewound when it is moved down into the casing.

21. In a dispenser for paper napkins and the like, a casing, a covertherefor having a dispensing opening, a. motor mounted to move bodilytoward and away from said dispensing opening, a napkin carrying platformmovable with the motor, connections between the motor and easing wherebythe motor moves itself and the plat-form toward said opening, and means,actuated upon the opening of the cover, for locking the motor againstmovement.

22.v In a dispenser for paper napkins and the like, a casing, a cover atthe top of the casing having a dispensing opening, a rotary windingmotor mounted to move bodily toward and away from said opening, anapkin-carrying platform movable with the motor, connections between themotor and easing whereby the motor lifts itself and the platform towardsaid opening, and means, controlled by the positioning of the cover, forlocking and releasing the motor.

23. In a dispenser for paper napkins and the like, a main casing, acover therefor, a

combined motor casing and napkin platform movable in the casing, a motorin the motor casing and movable with the casing, braking means for thesaid casing and platform, comprising relatively slidable frictionmembers carried by the main casing and motor casing respectively, andmeans, controlled by the positioning of said cover, for moving thefriction members into and out of engagement.

24:. In a dispenser for paper napkins and the like, a main casing, acover therefor, a

napkin-carrying platform movable up and.

down in the casing, means for moving said platform, a brake bar carriedby the casing and extending lengthwise thereof, a cooperating brakemember carried by the movable platform, and means, controlled by theposition of the cover, for moving the brake bar and brake member intoand out of operative engagement.

25. In a dispenser for paper napkins and the like, a main casing, acover at the top thereof having a dispensing opening, a motor casing andnapkin platform movable together up and down in the casing, a motor inthe casing serving to lift itself and the napkin platform toward saiddispensing opening, a brake bar carried by the casing and extendinglengthwise thereof, a cooper ating brake member carried by the platform,and means, controlled by the positioning of the cover, for moving thebrake bar and brake member into and out of engagement.

26. In a dispenser for paper napkins and the like, a casing having adispensing opening, a napkin-carrying platform, a spring motor mountedto move bodily with said platform, connect-ions from the motor to thecasing, the motor having a coil spring and serving to move itself andthe platform toward said dispensing opening, and means for varying thetension of the coil spring for varying the force exerted by the motor onthe platform.

27. In a dispenser for paper napkins and thelike, a casing having adispensing opening, a napkin-carrying platform, a spring motor mountedto move with the platform, toward and from the dispensing opening, themotor including a coil spring and serving to move itself and theplatform toward the dispensing opening, and connections from the motorto the casing, the motor acting to exert a greater force on the platformthe greater the distance it is from the dispensing opening.

Signed by us this 16 day of June 1925.

JOHN O. HUNT. GEORGE H. NORTH.

